The U.S. federal government partially shut down early Saturday after funding expired for numerous agencies, despite the Senate passing a bipartisan spending deal hours earlier. This lapse in appropriations, which began at midnight Eastern Time on January 31, 2026, triggers a shutdown that is expected to be short-lived as the House of Representatives prepares to vote on the package upon reconvening on Monday.
The shutdown affects key departments including Defense, State, Treasury, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, while agencies like the Justice Department, Veterans Affairs, Food and Drug Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency remain operational due to previously approved funding. Immediately after the funding lapse, the Office of Management and Budget directed affected agencies to execute orderly shutdown plans, with employees reporting to work for their next scheduled tour to undertake shutdown activities, expressing hope for a short duration.
The Senate approved the funding package late Friday by a vote of 71 to 29, following intense negotiations that resulted in a deal struck with Democrats. The package includes five long-term spending bills to fund most government agencies through September 2026, coupled with a two-week extension for the Department of Homeland Security. This compromise emerged after Democrats refused to provide additional funding for immigration enforcement without significant reforms, prompted by the fatal shooting of a nurse in Minneapolis by a federal agent.
Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have insisted that any long-term DHS funding must include measures to overhaul Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Their demands, echoed in the BBC report, include requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras, prohibiting masks, mandating judicial warrants for arrests, and ending roving patrols. Schumer emphasized that Democrats will stand united against funding without these reforms, citing public support following recent events.
On the Republican side, Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the difficulties in reaching a bipartisan agreement on immigration within the two-week window. The deal faced initial opposition from GOP senators like Lindsey Graham, who lifted his hold after securing commitments for future votes on legislation targeting sanctuary cities and allowing lawsuits related to special counsel investigations. Other amendments, such as those from Senators Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders, were debated and voted down during the Senate proceedings.
This partial shutdown occurs just 11 weeks after the conclusion of a 43-day government shutdown in late 2025, the longest in U.S. history, which severely disrupted services and left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay. However, the current impasse is unlikely to be as prolonged, as both parties express little desire for another extended shutdown, and the House is set to return promptly.
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the Senate-passed package on Monday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, with a potential floor vote later that evening. House Speaker Mike Johnson must navigate internal Republican dynamics, as Democrats have indicated they may not support passing the bill under suspension of the rules, forcing a reliance on Republican votes for a simple majority.
If the House approves the funding, President Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law, ending the shutdown and allowing two weeks for negotiations on DHS reforms. The outcome will significantly impact immigration policy and government stability in the lead-up to the 2026 elections, highlighting ongoing partisan divisions over enforcement and spending.
